He never liked them. The lights, the people and their dumb flashy clothing. And he especially hated the stuff feeling of the black fabric of various suits that were laid out for him to wear. None of it seemed to have any significance or meaning. The dumb parties.
Noctis sighed, as people chatted in groups, flattering each other with compliments that seemed to fake to be obvious. He sat on a cushioned stool, a glass of water in his left hand, the right fiddling with the sleeve of his blazer, which tonight had been accented with thin white pinstripes.
He looked around the large room, in search of his father, who no doubt was even there, most likely pulled from the gathering and speaking in his conference room with other royal officials. The room hummed with conversation softly, but it seemed to rack his nerves more than needed.
People were looking at him, and talking, whispering under their breath with shy smiles and bright eyes. He was used to it, but he still didn't know how to react. The prince gave a small group that was towards the left corner of the room a weak smile, and set his water down, and headed towers the balcony. Every step he took carved a path in the surging sea of people, who all scattered like water to oil, a clear path for Noctis.
He needed air. That or an excuse to exit the perimeter and have some alone time, a barricade of some sorts away from the roaring crowd of people that were inside the ballroom. It was quiet mellow outside in contrast to the inside, only a small scatter of groups that chatted amongst themselves, not paying him much mind. Which of course, didn't bother him. He preferred that much more than one after the other approaching him.
He smiled, and took in a deep breath. This is how he'd rather be spending his free days, just taking it all in, sitting or standing about in a calm atmosphere. Not the centre of attention at a party that was specifically arranged for him for almost no background reason. Most likely for the press, he had concluded at a previous party, which he had fought against in a short argument with his father.
Nonetheless, he knew he had to get used to them. He was destined to be at parties, in his suit and uncomfortable shoes until the day he dies. He was doomed to be the centre of attention. Even long after his death he's sure he would still be gawked about at his grave. The bought made him laugh silently under his breath.
As Noctis looked up into the stars, from the edge of the balcony where most of the crowds were, a piano was softly playing a gentle waltz. The music hadn't taken his interest, until now, when he noticed a small amount of party goers were crowding around the ebony instrument.
It was a young girl playing, whom he knew slightly. She had been at the parties before, playing the piano or accompanying an opera that had been hired for the night. He knew her face, but Noctis hadn't eve the slightest clue about any other trait about her. Her name was even a blank slate for him.
Noctis without a thought was already walking toward the piano and the player, slowly so he wouldn't draw any attention to his approach.
There wasn't anything extravagant to the eyes, besides the crowds formed by people who were all clad in the most exquisite jewel and fabrics. But to the ears, it was as if the heavens were upon Eos. It was truly something he hadn't heard of.
He worked his way around the crowd, occasionally bumping into others, or missing decorative pots by a mere inch, in hopes that he could possible catch a better look at the pianist. He kept his chin up, and his eyes fixated on her figure, where the only thing he could see was (h/c) strands of hair blocking her (s/c) face, which was peacefully concentrated on the piano, head swaying along with the melody.
